Field Notes

by Stan Harris

7 January - 20 February 2005

Winter is over, we are moving into the unspectacular Early Spring migration period, marked by the usual subdued birding activity on the part of observers, the gradual disappearance of local waterfowl, the arrival of the first Ospreys, Aleutian Cackling Geese, Band-tailed Pigeons, hummingbirds, and swallows, but the main spring migration is yet to come.  The period just past was marked with generally nice weather and little rain.  The only significant mammals reported were 3 Orcas seen on a PPSPSW. 

Abbreviations Used: AB = Arcata Bottoms; AMP = Arcata Marsh Project; BRR = Bear River Ridge; BSLP = Butcher Slough Log Pond; EL = Expected Location; EM = Expected Migrant; EN = Expected Numbers; ERB = Eel River Bottoms; ERWA = Eel River Wildlife Area; EWR = Expected Winter Resident; EWSN =Expected in winter in small numbers; FR = Few Records; GW = Gee Whiz Report; HBNWR = Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge; hc = highest count; IL = Interesting Location; IN = Interesting Numbers; KS = King Salmon; LC = Lake Cleone; LMR = Lower Mad River; mo = many observers; MRSWA = Mad River Slough Wildlife Area; MS = Monitored Species; NB = North Humboldt Bay; NC = Not confirmed by a second party; ND = No Description; PPSP = Patrick’s Point State Park; PPSPSW = 3.5-hour sea watch from Patrick’s Point State Park, 6 Jan by Barry Sauppe; SB = South Humboldt Bay; SHCP = Southern Humboldt Community Park; SR = Seldom Reported; x = no numbers reported.

White-fronted Goose (EWSN): 3, LC, 21 Dec-24 Jan (DT); 6-22, HBNWR, 11-12 Jan (RF); 2, BSLP, 27 Jan (EE); 1, AB with Aleutian Cackling Geese, 8 Feb (JTo); Emperor Goose (FR): 1 shot, ERWA, 15 Jan (DKy, fide BM, RF); Lesser Snow Goose (EWSN): 1, HBNWR, 12 Jan BS, RF); Ross’s Goose (EWSN): 1-2, 11-25 Jan (RF, BS, MW); 2, ERB, 5 Feb (KR, MW); Cackling Goose (EWSN): 4-5, LC, 21 Dec-14 Jan (DT); 1, SHCP, 10 Feb (DW); 2, AB, 9 Jan (RF, et al.); 1, Trinidad Harbor, 30 Jan (MeH); Aleutian Cackling Goose (EM): many flocks, up to several thousand at HBNWR, ERB, and AB throughout period (mo); Tundra Swan (EWR): at counts of barely over 200 in ERB, fewer than expected. (mo); 21 flying north over LMR, 12 Feb (JT): Bewick’s Swan (GW, NC, ND): 1 reported with Tundra Swans, ERB, 12 Jan (BS), only 1 other, ever northcoast record; Eurasian Wigeon (EWSN): 1, NB, 27 Jan (EE); Blue-winged Teal (EWSN): 1-2, BSLP, 10 Jan-10 Feb, seen almost daily (EE, JTo); Eurasian Green-winged Teal (EWSN): 1, BSLP, 16 Jan-6 Feb (FA, EE, SH, RF); Intergrade American x Eurasian Green-winged Teal (FR): 1, Klopp Lake, 30 Jan (RF); Redhead (MS): 239 (hc), SB at KS, 4 Jan (MW); 4, ERB, 12 Jan (RF); Greater Scaup (IL): 40+ Lewiston Lake, 19 Feb (SH, JH, TL); Harlequin (EL, EN): 19 (hc), Pt. St. George, 14 Jan (AB); 1-3, KS, Jetties, 9 Jan-14 Feb (mo); up to 10, Glass Beach, and 15, Ward Ave, 21 Dec-20 Jan (DT); Long-tailed Duck (EWSN): 1-2, SB, 13 Jan-14 Feb (MW), 2, Big Lagoon, 19-28 Jan (MM, RF, et al.); Black Scoter (FR): 1 female, No. Jetty, 13 Jan; 3, surf at Freshwater Lagoon, 12 Feb (SC, DS); Barrow’s Goldeneye (FR): 5 males, 19 females, Lewiston Lake, 23 Jan (DKu), identification of females based on “yellow on bill” and on association in a tight flock with obvious males; Hooded Merganser (FR): 3, KS, 18 Jan (MW); 5, Lanphere Dunes Pond, 23 Jan (JW); 10 Lewiston Lake, 19 Feb (JH); 1, Trinity River, 19 Feb (TL).

Wild Turkey (EL, SR): flocks of 20-30 “resident” along Mail/ Fruitland Ridge (JG); “some,” Redwood Valley, 13 Feb (SC); Mountain Quail (IL): 12, near Lewiston Lake, 23 Jan (DK); 3-4 at 600 ft. elevation, near Burnt Ranch, 19 Feb, (JH, et al.); Red-throated Loon (EM): 100, flying north (early spring migration?) 8 Feb, Trinidad (MM); Pacific Loon (ID): 1, KS, 14 Feb (MW); Yellow-billed Loon (GW, FR): 1, SB, 9 Feb (MW, BS, RH); Red-necked Grebe (EL, EN): 1, SB and channel, 9-28 Jan (SC, MW, SH); Eared Grebe (IN): 168, actual count, SB, 24 Jan (MW); Clark’s Grebe (FR): 1, NB, mo. Jacoby Creek, 23 Jan-8 Feb (EE, PL); Northern Fulmar (EM): 1 (only), PPSPSW; Sooty Shearwater (IN): 2 (only), PPSPSW; Short-tailed Shearwater (FR): 21 reported, PPSPSW; Brown Pelican (ID): 1, LP, 6 Jan (DT); American Bittern (FR): 1, BSLP, 22-31 Jan (EE); Cattle Egret (FR): 1-2, AB, BSLP, 8-26 Jan (RF, SC, EE); Osprey (EM): 8 reports of singles from Redwood Creek, Big Lagoon, PPSP, AMP, Humboldt Bay, 7-30 Jan (mo.

Bald Eagle (MS): 18 reports of 1-4 from mouth of Redwood Creek, Big Lagoon, Trinity River, Trinity Lake, Lewiston Lake, McKinleyville, LMR, Blue Lake, AB, HBNWR, Table Bluff, Benbow, 9 Jan-19 Feb (mo); Northern Goshawk (FR): 1 imm, studied while perched, Douglas City, 19 Jan (DKu); “Harlan’s” Hawk (FR, ND, NC): 1, Arcata/Eureka Bottoms, 14 Feb (SC); Ferruginous Hawk (EWSN): 1-2, AB 9-11 Jan (RF, JT, TMcK, et al.); 1, Lake Earl, all Jan (Lucas); 1, BRR, 2 Feb (LB); Rough-legged Hawk (EM): 1, BRR, 2 Feb (LB); Golden Eagle (EL): 1-2, BRR, 2-8 Feb (LB, BS); Crested Caracara (FR): second-hand verbal report that a “rancher in Eel River Bottoms” had this bird on his place “all month” (Jan), with Turkey Vultures eating road kills on his private road, no other details known. Merlin (EWSN): 12 reports of singles from AB, AMP, No. Spit, Garberville, including 1 “very pale bird”on AB, 10 Jan-13 Feb (mo); Peregrine (MS): 8 reports of 1-2, Trinidad, AMP, Field’s Landing, Benbow, Garberville, 9 Jan-14 Feb (mo), some seen to eat dunlins and other shorebirds; Prairie Falcon (FR): 1, BRR, 2-8 Feb (LB, BS); 2, near Smith Point Bridge, 7 Feb (JS).

Common Moorhen (FR): 1, AMP, 19 Jan-20 Feb (SC, EE, SH, RH, et al.), seen severely attacked by Coots on BSLP, found 2-3 days later over on Hauser Marsh (EE); Snowy Plover (MS): 7, Big Lagoon, 21 Jan (TL); 4-25, Clam Beach, 11-17 Jan (BS, SC); 10, South Spit, 2 Jan (RF); Lesser Yellowlegs (ID): 1, MRSWA, 20 Feb (JT); American Avocet (IL): 48, flat se of Fields Landing, 14 Feb (MW); Wandering Tattler (ID): 3, Trinidad, 7 Feb (MeH); Ruddy Turnstone (IL): 1, Trinidad, 7 Feb (MeH); Red Knot (EWSN): usual numbers seen at Klopp Lake 1-3, but hc of 9 Feb; 1 seen eaten by a peregrine on 27 Jan (both PL); Rock Sandpiper (EWSN): 1-2, North Jetty, 14-30 Jan (JB, SC); Wilson’s Snipe (FR): 8, AB, 11 Feb (KB, EC); Pomarine Jaeger (ID): 1, PPSPSW ; Parasitic Jaeger (ID): 1 fly past Freshwater Lagoon, 12 Feb (SC, DS); Heermann’s Gull (ID): 3, LP, 9 Jan (DT); 1 imm, AMP, 10-29 Jan (EE, et al.); 1, LMR, 12 Feb (JT); Thayer’s Gull (IN): up to 10-15, LMR, mo. Redwood Creek, Manila Dunes, Freshwater Lagoon, 9 Jan-12 Feb (mo); Glaucous Gull (FR): 1 first year, Ten-mile Beach, 8-9 Jan (DT); 1 Del Norte Co., 31 Jan (Lucas); 1 second year, Jetty Channel, 15 Feb (BS); Black-legged Kittiwake (IN): 17, PPSPSW; 10+ in 0.5 hours, Todd’s Point (DT); 1, Prisoner Rock, 8 Feb (MM); Marbled Murrelet (MS): 4, PPSPSW; 6, fly No. Past Trinidad, 8 Feb (MM); Ancient Murrelet (EWSN): 1, Ward Ave, 29 Dec (DT); Horned Puffin (GW): Carcasses recovered from beaches as follows; 1, barely south of Ore State Line, 10 Jan (OJ); 1, Crescent City, 10 Jan (SL, AB); 1, South Spit, 14 Jan (SP-C); 1 live bird seen near Off-Trinidad Rock, 8 Feb (MM); 1 live bird recovered from Samoa Beach, turned over to Humboldt Wildlife Care Center, 20 Feb (AA); Burrowing Owl (EWSN): 1, Crescent City, 9 Jan (PSy); 1, Ten-mile Beach, 8 Jan; (DT); 1, Bald Hill, Ft. Bragg, 24 Jan (DT); Barred Owl (MS): 1, East of Trinidad, 28 Jan (MeH).

Costa’s Hummingbird (FR): 1 holdover female, Redwood Roots Farms, 14 Jan (RF); Anna’s Hummingbird: 1, all Jan, at feeder, Douglas City (DKu); Rufous Hummingbird (EM): 1 male, AMP, 18 Feb (DB); Allen’s Hummingbird (EM): 1 male, Eureka Feeder, 31 Jan (BS); the first Selasphorus sp. was seen in Arcata, 30 Jan (JT, RG); Yellow-shafted Flicker (EM): 1 “pure bird,” Redwood Roots Farm, 13 Jan (RF); Pileated Woodpecker (FR): 2, SHCP, 30 Jan (JS); 1, Garberville, 23 Jan (JS); Least Flycatcher (FR): 1, 8th and N, Arcata, (holdover); 9 Jan-20 Feb (mo); Say’s Phoebe (EWSN): 1, near Centerville Bluffs, 5 Feb (KR, MW); Blue Jay (GW): 1 (only the 10th ever, northcoast bird) at a feeder, Redwood Valley, 2-19 Feb (K&TH, et al.); Horned Lark (MS): x, on top of Schoolhouse Peak, 2-3 Feb (KB); 13 (1 singing), BRR, 8 Feb (BS); Tree Swallow (EM): 1, AMP, 6 Feb (EE); 1, Trinity Lake, 19 Feb (JH); Barn Swallow (EM): 2-13, AMP, 28 Jan-6 Feb (EE, SC); 3, Redwood Creek Estuary, 22 Jan (SC); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (IL): 1, Big Rock turnout, highway 96, just north of Willow Creek, 31 Jan (BS); Western Bluebird (MS): 1 pair, BRR, 2 Feb (LB); x, BRR, 8 Feb (BS); 1, Korbel, 12 Feb (KJ); 2-9 seen almost daily in Jan, Kneeland (BB, DVZ); 4, Old Arcata Road x Jacoby Creek, 15 Feb (DF, TL); 2, Lewiston, 2, Trinity Center, both 19 Feb (JH); Cedar Waxwing (EM): 7, AMP, 6 Feb (EE).

Gray Catbird (GW): 1, Salmon Creek Road (near Miranda) and Highway 101, 7 Feb (BC), only the 4th northcoast record with convincing details; Northern Mockingbird (FR): 1, Eureka, 17-18 Feb (GP); 1, BSLP, 18 Jan (EE); 1, no. Arcata, 24-26 Jan (GH); Nashville Warbler (ID): 1-2, AMP, 10 Jan-6 Feb (EE, RF); 1, Crescent City, 13 Feb (RLV); Yellow Warbler (ID): 1, AMP 10 Jan-6 Feb (RF, EE, SC); Palm Warbler (EWSN): 1-2, AMP, 8 Jan-20 Feb (RF, EE, SC, FA, et al.); 2, 8^th and N, Arcata, 13 Feb (SC); 2, ERB, 12 Jan (RF); Black-and-white Warbler (EWSN): 1, BSLP, 14-20 Feb (PL, SC, EE, RF); Northern Waterthrush (EWSN): 1, BSLP, 10 Jan-20 Feb (EE, RF, et al.); Common Yellowthroat (EWSN): 1, AMP, 10 Jan-8 Feb (RF, RH, EE); Clay-colored Sparrow (FR, ID): 2, ERB, 12 Jan (RF); Swamp Sparrow (EWSN): 1-2, AMP, 8 Jan-6 Feb (EE, RF, et al.); Harris’s Sparrow (FR): 1, holdover, Ferndale, 11-12 Jan (RF, BS, LB); Lapland Longspur (EWSN): 1, Big Lagoon Spit, 28 Jan (RF); 4, MRSWA, 20 Feb (JT); 9, BRR, 8 Feb (BS); Chestnut-collared Longspur (FR): 1, id by call only, BRR, 8 Feb (BS); Snow Bunting (FR): 2, Big Lagoon Spit, 21 Jan (TL); 1 flyby, mouth, Redwood Creek, 31 Jan (BS); Baltimore Oriole (ID): 1 female, hold over, Arcata, 29 Jan (SC); 1 second year male, Crescent City, 13 Feb (RLeV).